Bills plan to extend Fred Jackson

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 10, 2012, 10:25 AM EST

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Fred Jackson is a running back on the wrong side of 30 coming off a season-ending injury, so he wouldn’t seem to be a strong candidate for a contract extension. But the Bills say they want to get a new deal done with Jackson.

Bills GM Buddy Nix told the team’s web site that he and Jackson are on the same page about a new contract.

“Fred and I have talked,” Nix said. “We want to extend Fred. I’d like for Fred to finish his career as a Bill. He’s meant a lot to us. I’ve got great respect for him. We do want Fred back and we do intend to try to work out a deal with him. I’ve told him that. What we said is what we’re going to do.”

Jackson, who will turn 31 on February 20, was recently cleared to participate in all offseason activities after a broken fibula caused him to miss the last six games of the 2011 season. He has one year left on his current contract.

Leave it up to the Bills to re-up a 31 year old RB who’s coming off season ending surgery who is ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT. Should let him play out his contract and if he’s got any gas left in the tank — franchise tag him in 2013. I don’t care how little mileage you have on you — 33 year old RB is not a good thing to rely on.

iplaybad says:Feb 10, 2012 10:56 AM

The Bills probably extend him for two seasons with a third year option. Fred Jackson hasn’t been ground up yet. He and Spiller can create a nice RBBC duo while both of their careers would be extended.

Thomas Jones was on the wrong side of 30 with limited mileage on him. Now he’s 33 and can’t stay on the field. And CJ Spiller??? Seriously???? Imagine if this team gave Jackson a chance years ago. Instead of drafting Spiller they could have a backfield of Jackson and Marshawn Lynch behind a stud offensive lineman they could have drafted instead of taking Spiller.

The Bills continue to make the worst decisions in Football. They haven’t had a good draft in 15 seasons. They just dropped 60 Million on career backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.

kenny1976 says:Feb 10, 2012 11:08 AM

Pretty cool that theres still loyal ownership out there.
Dont see alot of that anymore.

Loyal teams? The same team that shipped off fan favorite Lee Evans, who was the ultimate professional. That was actually a good move by the franchise (business wise) — but def not loyal. Loyalty by drafting a guy in the first round (Aaron Maybin), not giving him a fair go and then shipping him off to a division rival where he thrives? That’s a bad GM, terrible Coaching and NO LOYALTY.

The fact that Bills fans still back the decisions of this franchise is ridiculous. If your team hasn’t made the playoffs since the 1990’s then why do you continue to trust the people that put a crap product on the field. If I were a Bills fan I would be OUTRAGED.

wwwmattcom says:Feb 10, 2012 11:20 AM

This team is fun to watch. Its been a while since I could honestly say that. Granted they were blown out a couple times this year. This offense is explosive with career backup Fitz. The o line shows promise. Only missing a guy to get the QB. That will change with a 4-3 and Williams Dareus at DT. with a solid off season this team will play more consistent ball.

kosarsmyidol says:Feb 10, 2012 11:38 AM

What’s with running backs named Fred? Fred Taylor was also a beast at an age where most running backs find themselves watching football on television. I agree with rocamob that the Bills would’ve been better off keeping Lynch and drafting a stud lineman in place of Spiller.

The fact that Bills fans still back the decisions of this franchise is ridiculous. If your team hasn’t made the playoffs since the 1990′s then why do you continue to trust the people that put a crap product on the field. If I were a Bills fan I would be OUTRAGED.
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In most cases yes, but not in this case. Jackson is a a dynamic playmaker that will help this team over the next few years. Bills might be closer to turning this thing around than people think.

Follow me on this: In 2008 we start 5-1, sign Dick Jauron to a massive extension, we finish 7-9. This year we start 5-2, sign Fitzpatrick to a huge extension, finish 6-10.

For an organization that rarely spends big money on players, we can’t afford to miss like this. My heart says “Great for Fred” but my head says that at his age and with this injury we are headed down the EXACT same road.

last years draft was OK, seeing as all drafted made the team, and most contributed. Jackson was OK in November, he’ll be fine in September. He had a cracked non-weight bearing bone. Thats a lot better than an ACL, MCL or even a severe knee sprain. Evans was done, as he showed by having a whopping 4 catches in a reciever starved offense, and dropping the ball that sent the Ravens to the SB. Lynch was a criminal, we haven’t heard a tenth of the stuf he did that wasn’t reported, but I know people who witnessed a lot of it. Steve Young was a longtime backup now in Canton. Does anyone ever have anything positive to say?

If you take away the first 4 games of the season (you know — right around that time he got paid) — Fitzpatrick had one of the worst seasons out of any starter in the NFL. Fitz can thank the talents of Fred Jackson for that giant raise the team gave him. He’s not a guy who is going to win ANYTHING without a running game. He has a sub par arm and makes terrible decisions with the ball. You can scream “He wen to Harvard, he’s smart!” But he’s not. He takes too many risks. You can’t do that when you have 1 decent WR and a terrible defense.

They shouldn’t worry about Jackson. They should be working on a contract for Stevie Johnson. He’s a solid number 2 on ANY team, but he’s a 1 on the Bills. The Bills will probably have to pay him 2 mil more per year than any other team to stay in Buffalo. But he’s worth it. He’s the only WR that has chemistry with Fitz. Pay Johnson. Let Jackson play out the contract.

I ‘d be skeptical signing a runningback over 30 who really isn’t explosive to anything other than a 1 year deal, regardless if he doesn’t have alot of mileage. I’m sure you can find a back in the draft that could give you his production as a rookie.

Any real Bills fan knows that this deal MUST GET DONE! Everyone saw the Bills collapse after Freddie went down with injury. He is completely fresh, and has hardly any tough miles on him. CJ is a good running back. Freddie is a GREAT one. Every team needs two solid RBs, and with Spiller on the roster as well it is a no brainer. You’ve got your insurance policy growing, and learning from one of the classiest and most underrated players in the NFL.

rocamob says:
Feb 10, 2012 11:18 AM
The fact that Bills fans still back the decisions of this franchise is ridiculous. If your team hasn’t made the playoffs since the 1990′s then why do you continue to trust the people that put a crap product on the field. If I were a Bills fan I would be OUTRAGED.

We believe the franchise has turned a corner with the hire of Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey. No outrage here, we see a different future coming. Only good things. Go Bills!!!!

So I try to post once, and it doesn’t go through, yet “rocamob” can post his garbage over and over and over again with no interruption. Seriosly though, Rocamob, shut it. I will continue to ‘Drink the Kool-Aid” because I am a fan on the team, Duh. Maybe you are jealous because the team you root for has Zero fan following, and even the Bills, with losing records since the ’99 season has better attendance and following. The Bills are a storied Franchise, having a place in history in all era’s of the game, albeit sometimes bad. Lee Evans had all but a forgettable season for the Ravens, so wise choice to let him walk. Maybin is a situational rusher on the Jets, that would have been nice for the Bills except for the fact he was getting paid Millions to be an every down player. Can you please name a team that has had a better draft then the Bills the last 2 seasons. Spending money, and spending money wisely are 2 diffrent things. I would rather have a team full of hard working guys who have upside, and come to play every day, instead of a team full of entitled vetrans who are only in it for the money. Dallas, Washington, and Philly didn’t make the playoffs this season. Those teams are notorious for spending big bucks on FA. Who cares if your 1-15 or 8-8, if you didn’t make the playoffs, the season was a failure. The Bills have cap room, Draft picks, and superstar talent on the rise. Ill take that over over-hyped expectations that come with foolishly spending money any day of the week.

We did better than the Jets and Dolphins against them, so what are you trying to say? Also, we are te only team in the AFCE that can score with the Pats, add some defensive stops in the mix and you are talking the top 2 teams in the division, look at it like Balt-Pitt.

5chan says:Feb 10, 2012 2:06 PM

rocamob might want to look into the 2011 draft when talking about how the Bills haven’t had a good one in 15 years.

And the Bills fanbase isn’t a bunch of bandwagoners. We aren’t Pats fans who will turn on the QB who has won multiple Super Bowls for their team.

Anybody that knows the Bills know that the Offense was already in decline even with FJ in the lineup! CJ put up similar numbers after a few games starting, this team didn’t collapse becasue of Freddie, they collapsed because they stopped forcing turnovers and the defense was down-right terrible. Don’t forget, we get a healthy Kyle Williams back next season. Williams, Dareus, Kelsay plus another DE and this line will be GOOD.

I like this. I am starting to feel good about the coach / gm combo, and I havent felt hat way since the 90’s…. now please sign stevie… please.. and you will have my trust. just do it! and go hard in free agency. build through the draft. lets do this.

polishkingski says:Feb 10, 2012 2:19 PM

bills fans need to step away and look at the situation logically. chan gailey, buddy nix and doug wehle took over a team that was a mess. i know we have been waiting for a winner for yrs but i think these guys are solid football guys that will turn this team around. with that being said i have already bought some giants gear for the coming season. its always good to have a contingency plan. GO BIG BLUE!

Isn’t Nix the guy who drafted Rivers after he felt like his draft of Brees was a bust? As long as Ralph is pulling the strings the Bills will never be good. They have such a bad stench around the league that no one wants to play there. If the Bills want to sign a top flight FA they have to overpay them. They have already proven they can’t build through the draft and make careless money decisions.

polishkingski says:Feb 10, 2012 3:03 PM

@rocamob….wow, you really hate the bills.

peytonsforehead says:Feb 10, 2012 3:14 PM

Rocamob must have no job!! Who posts such hatred 49 different times in one thread? Wait!!! Rex Ryan is that you?

moderndayjhericurl says:
Feb 10, 2012 12:34 PM
I ‘d be skeptical signing a runningback over 30 who really isn’t explosive
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haha..woaaah buddy…isn’t explosive? i guess we have different definitions of explosive. take a look at the tape of the 60 YAC vs the Pats during the first game last year, the 50-yd beauty against the Raiders last year and the 25+ ydr where he is running by DB’s, the 55-yd screen vs the Eagles, THE 80-YD TD VS THE SUPERBOWL CHAMPION GIANTS, the 40-ydr in Toronto vs the Skins, the 30-YAC AS A RECEIVER in that same Skins game, more importantly, and I believe this is where Fred excels as a RB, the ability to combine explosiveness with elusiveness. Name a more elusive RB in the NFL right now?? You can problem count on one hand the amount of times he was tackled in the open field by one defender. ADDDING to this, he RARELY goes down on the first hit.

Yeah, lets not extend the man who led the league with as an RB with average (granted getting better and i’m excited about it) blocking until he was injured, yeah…that makes sense..

good lord racomob, go back to the patriots blog or the briuns or wherever the heck you came from. lets take a look at your dumb dribble:
1.”Leave it up to the Bills to re-up a 31 year old RB who’s coming off season ending surgery who is ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT…33year old RB is not a good thing to rely on.”
– FJax turns 31 this month, was the best RB in the league before injury, and there was no surgery. thanks dummy.
2. “Imagine if this team gave Jackson a chance years ago. Instead of drafting Spiller they could have a backfield of Jackson and Marshawn Lynch”
-Well, Jackson was behind lynch in 09- this is the first year the other pieces were there for this style of football. shipping off lynch was a good move, dude has all kinds of problems.
3. “They haven’t had a good draft in 15 seasons. ”
-This is a GREAT one to display your stupidity. 09′ was a GREAT draft, so was 10′. all the analysts agree. Eric Wood, Jarius Byrd, Andy Levitre in 09′, then Spiller, Easley, Wang, Moats in 10′ THEN, the 11′ draft is widely regarded as the best in the division, and top in the conference. Dareus, Aaron Williams, Kelvin Sheppard, Searcy and Hairston ALL proved themselves this year- this is inarguable.
4.”Loyal teams? Loyalty by drafting a guy in the first round (Aaron Maybin), not giving him a fair go”
-hogwash. Maybin showed buffalo ONE thing. that he didnt want to play there. he came down with a nasty case of albert haynesworth syndrome and the FO made the right decision. your ignorance to facts is astounding.
5.”The fact that Bills fans still back the decisions of this franchise is ridiculous. ”
-bills fans are the most loyal in the league. thats why over the last decade with no playoffs, they are still in the top half of the league in attendance. i know its hard for you to imagine sticking with a team and not jumping to whatever winning bandwagon all your bro’s are with at the time.
6.”If you take away the first 4 games of the season (you know — right around that time he got paid) ”
-this is so dumb on so many levels. its like saying ,”take away the playoffs and the pats wouldnt have made the superbowl”. fitz got paid then came out and destroyed the redskins. remember that? then the whole 2nd half of the season bills watched their starters drop to IR and they racked up the 2nd MOST injuries in the league. MAYBE that had something to do with it.
7. “you have 1 decent WR and a terrible defense.”
-you are actually correct. after the injuries, SJ was the only WR left from the original corps, and the defense was terrible ALL after 17 PLAYERS landed on IR.
8.”Bills will probably have to pay him [SJ] 2 mil more per year than any other team to stay in Buffalo.”
-granted, historically buffalo has had to up the anty to land some FA’s. but wait, so does any team on a skid that isnt in a glitzy city. At one point and time, EVERY NFL TEAM fit this profile. AND SHOW ME one instance where that equals 2MILLION DOLLARS. it doesnt. you pulled that stat, like all of your other contents, out of your 2hole.
9.”They have already proven they can’t build through the draft and make careless money decisions.”
-yeah except for ’09, ’10, and ’11 drafts you have a point. but you are dumb. see #3 again tool.

and 10. will be added as soon as you post again. because as we have all seen here, everytime you post something you show how dumb you are.